Netflix

The hackers stalking TV networks

A large broadcasting symposium will be held in New York at the beginning of next month, but the state of TV drama, the rise of Netflix or the impact of mega-mergers on the media landscape are unlikely to be mentioned.

This symposium, called by the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA), is devoted entirely to the growing threat that broadcasters around the world face from cybercrime and the hacking of their networks.

Amazon's online drive for audiences

The Grand Tour (Credit: Amazon)

It’s rare for Yorkshire town Whitby to make the national press – unless, of course, there’s been a flood – but wherever Jeremy Clarkson goes, the world follows. Amazon’s impending launch of The Grand Tour is one of the most globally anticipated series of all time.

Jay Marine, vice-president of Amazon Prime Video Europe, says: “It is a huge TV moment, not only for us but for UK TV generally.”

Netflix swoops to conquer: An interview with Ted Sarandos

Ted Sarandos was interviewed by Francine Stock at the RTS London Conference (Credit: Paul Hampartsoumian)

Is Netflix set on “world domination”? That was one of the themes in this intriguing encounter between the company’s Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos, and Francine Stock, presenter of Radio 4’s The Film Programme. Since a huge expansion across the globe in January, only China, North Korea, Crimea and Syria remain outside the streaming service’s worldwide reach. 

The horn of plenty: TV in a hyperconnected world

The panel (L-R): Hugh Dennis, Sue Unerman, Jim Ryan, Simon Pitts and Ben McOwen Wilson  panel (L-R): Hugh Dennis, Sue Unerman, Jim Ryan, Simon Pitts and Ben McOwen Wilson (Credit: Paul Hampartsoumian)

Comedian Hugh Dennis aired the thoughts of many trying to navigate the new television landscape when he introduced this session. In a video diary shown to conference delegates, he was seen stuck inside a room for a month. His task was to watch all the content available to modern audiences. 

“Watching telly used to be so easy,” he complained. “Four channels, maybe five – everyone watched the same thing in the same place at the same time, unless your family was at the cutting edge of technology and had a VCR.” 

ITV Studios to produce new kids show for Netflix

Robozuna will premiere on CITV early in 2018, before being made available on the SVoD service across the world. 

The show follows 14-year-old Ariston and his robot sidekick Mangle as they battle evil robot centurions to free a nation from the tyrannical empire.

Steve Green, Executive Vice President of Kids Content and Distribution for ITV Studios Global Entertainment said the show combines "cinematic production values" with "warm and relatable characters and action-packed storylines, as well as a rich and diverse play pattern".

The lure of the small screen

The Night Manager

When the latest project from multiple Oscar nominees Peter Morgan (The Queen) and Stephen Daldry (The Reader) reaches audiences in November, it won’t be in cinemas.

Morgan has created and written The Crown, an extended biopic on the life of Queen Elizabeth II. Daldry is the executive producer and has directed an episode of the show. The series begins with Elizabeth’s marriage in 1947 and aims to recount the story of her life until the present day.

Marcella renewed as part of ITV/Netflix deal

The streaming giant bought exclusive global rights to the first series of Marcella back in April, they will make the second available internationally in 2017 after ITV have broadcast the episodes here in the UK.

Pulling in an average audience of 6.8 million, series one of Marcella follows the investigation of troubled detective sergeant Marcella Backland into a serial murder case. Having returned to the force after her husband left her, she herself becomes a suspect in the case down to her violent anger-induced blackouts.

This week's top TV: 11 - 17 July

Exodus, BBC, Refugee

Monday

Exodus: Our Journey to Europe

BBC Two

9pm

This three-part documentary series offers a unique insight into the intense and dangerous journeys made by migrants at the peak of the 2015 refugee crisis.

Migrants who were fleeing war, poverty or political upheaval were given camera phones to capture their journey to the relative safety of European shores.

They filmed where regular TV crews could not: on inflatable dinghies bobbing across the Mediterranean or in the backs of trucks as they were smuggled across the Sahara.